Traditions

__**Architecture:**__ Architecture in ancient Greece was usually done with wood or mud-bricks, so their ground plans are the only evidence of their existence. Greeks established most of the most enduring themes, attitudes, and forms of western culture. Architecture is one of the Greek legacies that the western civilization has inherited, as Greece established many of the structural elements, decorative motifs, and building types still used in architecture today. The two main styles of Greek architecture are doric and ionic. The doric style is much more disciplined and austere, whereas the ionic style is more relaxed and decorative. There was a strong emphasis in building temples for the Greek mythological gods and goddesses. But, there were also well known public buildings like the Parthenon. Building materials used were limestone and some native stones. Highly expensive marble was used mainly for sculptural decoration found in grand buildings of the classical period. The roofs of their buildings were made up of timber beams covered with overlapping terracotta or occasionally marble tiles. The structure of ancient Greek architecture consists of a basic cube or rectangle, flanked by colonnades, and a long sequence of columns. Building will have a pronao or a portico that open up to a large open court peristyle. Greeks used very little of the principles of the masonary arch, individual blocks bound together by mortar. The front end of the roof has flat triangular shaped structure, the pediment which is usually filled with scultural decoration. Temples are the best known form of Greek architecture. The altar of the temple was usually found in the sacred fane, an enclosure, in front of the temple. The inner building of the temple, cella, served mainly as the storage room. The other common public builds of the Greek architecture are gymnasiums, the palaestra, and theatres. In ancient Greece, architects were hardly treated as valuable master craftsmen, unlike today where the architects are closely associated with the work they produce. And moreover, architecture was not seen as an art form, as it is in modern times.

__**Education:**__ Schools in ancient Athens were private, but very affordable. The rich as well as the poor children were able to attend. Boys started school around the age of 6 and continued until the age of 14. Girls did not attend school, but were often taught basic reading and writing by their mothers. They attended music and dance lessons outside the home. The most important part of an education for boys was literature and the arts. Boys were also trained in sports by playing ball, wrestling and discus throwing. At the age of 18 boys were required to serve 2 years in the military. Schools in ancient Sparta were different than in Athens. The most important part of their education was militay training. Spartan boys left home and attended military school at the age of six. Girls were also trained in a similar manner as the boys learning combat skills and wrestling. If a girl passed her military training, she could marry and return home. Boys were required to stay in the military until age 60. Only then could they return home to live with their family.


 * __Religion:__** The ancient Greeks worshipped many different Gods and Goddesses. Each God or Goddess represented a specific part of Greek life such as water and sky. The Greeks thought that they would be protected by the Gods and that their lives would become better because of their worship. These Gods were thought to have human form and possess incredible powers. The ancient Greeks also believed that sacrifices would be rewarded by the Gods. The Greeks participated in both public and private sacrifices. They would offer gifts of animals, fish and birds to the Gods. The public sacrifices were held in temples and would follow another type of gathering such as a festival. The worshiping of the Gods brought the ancient Greeks together in their beliefs.

__**Government:**__ The ancient Greeks were the first to initiate a democratic form of government. Male citizens were the lawmakers and held public assemblies throughout the year to discuss laws and vote. Women and children were not allowed to vote. The lawmakers were chosen by drawing names and they served for one year. Since most men were busy working, farming or fighting wars, there were often only a few men that attended the assemblies. Greece was made up of city-states and each had its' own government. The lawmakers could only vote within their own city-state.

__**Marriages:**__ Ancient Greek weddings took place when the girl was about 15 years and the man, 30 (since the men had military service until they were 30). The husband to be was chosen by the girl's father and she was expected to follow through with his decision. Sometimes, in order to protect the family wealth, the girl would marry a distant relative. Wedding ceremonies started after dark with the bride riding in a chariot to the groom's home. The bride would wear a veil in red or yellow to protect her from evil spirits. She sometimes carried a lump of sugar to ensure her life was sweet. The wedding reception was held by the groom on the day following the wedding. It was a huge feast, with drinking and dancing. Gifts were brought to the bride and groom such as furniture, baskets and jewelry.

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__** Ares- **__The Greek God of war. He was pictured as good looking and bearded, carrying a spear. with dogs and wild beasts. __**Hades-**__ The Greek God of the underworld and the dead. Hades stood up for the rights of the dead at burial.
 * __Olympic Gods and Goddesses:__**
 * __ Aphrodite- __**Goddess of love. Mother of Eros. Daughter of Zeus and Dione. A breath-takingly gorgeous goddess capable of prompting love and lust.
 * __ Apollo- __** The God of music and light. He is often pictured as being very handsome with golden hair.
 * __ Artemis- __** The Greek Goddess of the night and wild things. She is known as the huntress who roams the forests at night
 * __ Athena- __** Athena, was the Greek Goddess of wisdom and arts and crafts. She is usually pictured with an owl and her symbols were a helmet, shield and spear.
 * __ Demeter- __** Goddess of agriculture and fertility. She is said to have created winter and had taught humans how to cultivate and preserve food and grains.
 * __ Eros- __**The Greek God of love and enchantment.
 * __ Haphaestus- __** God of fire and metalworking. Hephaestus was a blacksmith and craftsman.
 * __ Hera- __**Hera was the queen of the Gods and the goddess of marriage. Hera is depicted as a beautiful goddess, with a crown and carrying a pomegranate.
 * __ Hermes- __**God of travel and messenger of Zeus. He is also called the messenger of the gods.
 * __ Hestia- __** The Greek Goddess of home and hearth. Hestia was also known as the Goddess of fire and sacrifice.
 * __ Poseidon- __**God of the sea, earthquakes and horses. Poseidon controlled everything that happened on the sea, whether it was a safe vogage or creating conditions for a shipwreck.
 * __ Zeus- __** The God of the sky and weather. He is also the king of all the Gods.